How does art work? How does it move us, inform us, challenge us? Internationally renowned painter David Salle's incisive essay collection illuminates the work of many of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. Engaging with a wide range of Salle's friends and contemporaries-from painters to conceptual artists such as Jeff Koons, John Baldessari, Roy Lichtenstein, and Alex Katz, among others- 'How to See' explores not only the multilayered personalities of the artists themselves but also the distinctive character of their oeuvres. Salle writes with humor and verve, replacing the jargon of art theory with precise and evocative descriptions that help the reader develop a personal and intuitive engagement with art. The result: a master class on 'how to see' with an artist's eye.

Bibliographic references:

Includes bibliographical references.

Contents:

How to give form to an idea. Alex Katz: the how and the what ; Amy Sillman: a modern-day action painter ; Christopher Wool: painting with its own megaphone ; The German miracle: the work of Sigmar Polke ; Robert Gober: the heart is not a metaphor ; Albert Oehlen: the good student ; Dana Schutz: a guy named Frank ; Roy Lichtenstein: change is hard ; The art of childhood: Jeff Koons at the Whitney ; John Baldessari's movie script series ; The success gene: Wade Guyton and Rosemarie Trockel -- Being an artist. Vito Acconci: the body artist ; The Petite cinema of John Baldessari ; Karole Armitage and the art of collaboration ; The camera blinks ; Old guys painting ; The grapplers: Marsden Hartley, Philip Guston, and Clyfford Still ; Urs Fischer: waste management ; Jack Goldstein: clinging to the life raft ; Sad clown: the art of Mike Kelley ; Frank Stella at the Whitney ; Provincialism without a capital: the art of Thomas Houseago ; Frederic Tuten: the art of appropriation -- Art in the world. André Derain and Courbet's palette ; Picabia, c'est moi ; Baby's giant bean ; Lovely music: the art of Barbara Bloom ; Structure rising ; Piero della Francesca -- Pedagogy and polemics. The '80s -- what were they good for? A lecture delivered at the Milwaukee Museum of Art ; A talk for the first day of class ; Art is not a popularity contest: a commencement address given at the new York Academy of Art, 2011 ; Questions without answers for John Baldessari.